The Transfer Tavern

What does the future hold for Nikola Katic?

At the start of this season, it looked like Steven Gerrard’s purchase of Nikola Katic was a brilliant piece of business. The Croatian signed from Slaven Belupo over the summer and featured in all of the Gers’ Europa League qualifying matches and their opening six Scottish Premier League games, although it seems that is as good as it got for him.

His early season form, and the partnership that Katic struck up with Connor Goldson looked like something that would see him become a mainstay of this Rangers side. However, Steven Gerrard has opted against him as of late and the 22-year-old has been an unused substitute in the last four Scottish Premier League games that the Bluenoses have gone into.

Whenever he’s played this season, Katic has been a class act. In his sporadic appearances, the Croatian has managed two goals at the right end of the pitch and has been as solid as you like at the back. However, it appears that something is going on that has been limiting his game time. At the age of 22, he is certainly young for a central defender, but that shouldn’t stop him from featuring.

Instead of Katic, Gerrard has been going for the pairing of Goldson and Joe Worrall together at the heart of his defence, and as his side’s form has become indifferent over the last few weeks it surely can’t hurt for him to give Katic the game time he must so desperately be craving. If that game time isn’t afforded to the defender in his debut season at Ibrox then he will have to have a long and hard think about his future.

A move back to Croatia is surely off the cards. The stopper has proven himself in Scotland and will have gained the attention of a number of clubs south of the border in doing so. There are a number of Croats currently plying their trade in the Premier League and the Championship and a move down south would certainly be appealing to a player who has the ability and potential of Katic.